Scrap-A-Latte ~ two of my favorite things...

GOODBYE 2008!

 I can't say that 2008 was a good year.  We had a lot of worry in our family.  Unfortunately, this will be the year I remember as my granddaughter diagnosis with cancer, the year I lost my best friend to cancer and the year I had to lay off over 100 people due to the economy. So GOODBYE 2008, bring on 2009!  We are positive 2009 will be a GREAT year for us!

I have not had much time to scrap lately and I think I lost my mojo somewhere over the Atlantic ocean, but I have thrown a few layouts together (literally) while waiting out the New Year.  What better way to welcome 2009, then to be scrapping my memories.

Every year Papa and I take the grandkids shopping so they can pick out gifts to give the family.  It has became a tradition for the past 3 years and one we all look forward too.  This year we went to the Mall, it was bitter cold and very snowy, so the comfort of the mall was the best.  We had lunch, shopped and rode the carousal.  It is one of my favorite things to do at Christmas time.

 

After a day of shopping with the kiddies, we all went out to dinner at a new place in town.  It was an old building converted, with the exposed brick and old wooden floors, very charming.

 

The carousal, a trip to the mall isn't complete with out a ride on the merry-go-round!  Papa rode with the kids and I took the pictures.  The photo is blurred for posting purposes to protect the innocent.

 

The Netherlands, my first photo to scrap.  It was like stepping back in time, with the cobblestone streets and narrow pathway.  Bicycles instead of cars.  Simpler times, not the hustle and bustle of everyday life at home.

End of the Journey

It was a busy day for those of us that had a stomach virus yesterday. 

Mid afternoon we went to a small city name Hattem.  It was established in 1430, what a beautiful place.  The narrow cobblestone streets and village type shops.  We shopped and spent to much, but what a wonderful place to spend the afternoon and hang out at the koffie haus.

 

We went to an Indonesia place tonight for dinner with Edwin's family and Annelies' parents.  It was our farewell dinner.  It was nice to be together for one last evening but very sad when we had to part.  There were a lot of tears and promises of future visits.  We will stay in touch as they were part of my dear friends life, therefore they are now part of mine.

Tomorrow we say goodbye to the Netherlands and head for home.  I am excited to go home, I miss my family.  I am so glad I made the trip though, as I have seen where my friend grew up, attended school and shared stories with her family.  I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Mid-Way Through the Trip

We had the memorial last night in Zewep, Netherlands for my friend Annelies.  It was more emotional than I had thought since we had a memorial in Michigan.  But, our good-byes have come to a close and she is finally at rest.

We napped and rested most of the arrival day, Sunday as it was 6:00AM when we flew in to Amsterdam. We had a brief visit with my Friends parents, it was a very sad moment for us all. Sunday night we went to dinner at Steakhouse, Texas (yes that is what they call it) and I had a very good sirloin steak.  Everything is closed (stores) on Sunday.

Monday we went to the local center (shopping) it is very limited in what they offer in Zewep, but I did find a sweater I really liked.  The stores here are nothing like the states (they call it Amerika) The stores are very specialized.  Bakeries, Produce, Meat markets, no Meijers, Krogers and Chain Grocery stores and not a Wal-Mart in site.  That evening we went to a home of some friends of my friend.  He was British and she Dutch, we had a very nice evening talking with them.

Tuesday we went to a village established in 1392, the name of the town escapes me, but I have the history tucked away in my suitcase somewhere.  The village use to be coastal waterfront until additional land (man made, I am told) was added.  The village had a town wall and moot completely surrounding it for protection from enemies.  I was snapping pictures of this quaint little place, when we came upon the old bunker that housed the soldiers protecting the water front.  I snapped a picture and it was absolutely full of Orbs!  I was told by my friend's husband that the camera lens was dirty, so he cleaned it and took a picture, the abundance of orbs were still present.  Two seconds later I took a picture of the clock tower and it was as clear as a bell....interesting day.  In the evening we visited another home of family friends. This was the most pleasant evening I have spent so far.  She was British and he Dutch, but he lived and work in the Ivory Coast of South Africa for over 20 years.  The stories they had to tell kept us entertained for hours.  We have vowed to stay in touch, as I have found a new friend in the Netherlands.

Wednesday was SHOPPING! We went to the town of Zwolle to shop and what a mecca of stores it was!  Narrow cobblestone streets that twined around several city blocks.  And oh, the fashion, very cutting edge European.  I got everyone a sampling of clothing during our shopping trip.

Yesterday was prep for the Memorial, we visited Annelies' parents once again.  Her mother brought out some of Annelies' jewelry when she was a teenager as well as two of her baby bracelets she wore in elementary school.  She gave them to me for my granddaughter as Annelies had spoken about Audrey and her battle with cancer over the past few months.  It was such a kind and touching gesture.  I read my eulogy at the service, though few could understand my English.  Translations of my eulogy was on the tables, but I am sure it was difficult to follow along.  I brought 2 pink roses to the service and laid them along side Annelies' picture, when I concluded the eulogy I picked one up and took it to her mother.  I took off my heart necklace containing Annelies' ashes and placed it around her mother's neck.  She told me she loved me for loving her daughter.  It was a very special moment between us.  I have another necklace on the way to me that will be filled with my friends ashes upon my return to the states.  Annelies' mother had admired my necklace on Sunday afternoon and I thought my friend would approve of me giving it to her mom.  A few of their friends gathered at the house after the service, it was a late night....and we shall see what today brings.

The Netherlands

This small country has never been on my wish list of European Vacations, but Saturday that is where I am heading.  I am going with my friends husband to take her home.  She was from the Netherlands until she moved to the USA 11 years ago and now she will go home.  I am looking forward to meeting her friends and walking the streets where she grew up, it will allow me to know who she was just a little bit better.  There will be another memorial service in the Netherlands on December 18th, the date of their wedding anniversary.  It will be difficult to say one final good-bye to a friend, but I at least I will know that we took her home. 

We will not return until very late in the evening on the 21st, just in time for Christmas with my family. If my laptop cooperates, I will post some pictures from the Netherlands.

A Gift

Today I received this beautiful heart necklace.  It hold some of Annelies' ashes in the puffy heart.  I know that might make some people cringe, but I find it comforting to always have her with me.  It was appropriate that the chain hangs just long enough so that the charm hangs over my heart.

Goodbye My Friend

Today we said goodbye to my dear friend Annelies.  I was honored to read her eulogy.  Although it was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, I know she was standing beside me, giving me the strength to get through it.

 

Annelies Hartman- Van Ommen lived a wonderful life, though it was cut too short. She was a daughter, a sister, a wife and a friend.

Annelies and I met when I hired her to work at Electro Chemical Finishing.  It didn’t take long for us to transcend our roles as boss and employee to become fast friends.  We shared a very strong bond and many of the same interests, opinions and ideas.  I came to love her like a daughter and it goes without saying that her death leaves emptiness in my heart and a void in my life.

As I look to each of you, I see my own sorrow in your eyes.  Behind the tears that fall for Annelies, I see great love and admiration.  I know Annelies would be humbled to realize that so many have joined in the celebration of her life.  I’m honored to have known her and share these words with you today.

Had anyone asked Annelies what her finest legacy to the world would be, I believe she would have said her love for Edwin.  Edwin and Annelise were the perfect pair and if he is to find any comfort in her passing, I hope it is to remember that while he was her link to the past…he is also Annelies’ hope for the future.

When we worked together, I was in awe of Annelies’ skills.  She was a wonderful service representative who was meticulous and accurate with her accounts – and they loved her.  While she enjoyed her job, she had many outside interests.  She played bunko on a monthly basis, took riding lessons, loved to spend time with her horse, walked her dogs, enjoyed traveling and loved spending time with Edwin.  Her travel adventures began at an early age when she traveled to the States as a foreign exchange student.  She fell in love with Michigan and after a brief return to her homeland, where she met and married Edwin, they returned to make a life in Michigan.

It’s easy to say nice things about Annelies because she was a kind and caring person.  She was dependable, coming to work or keeping a commitment even when we all knew it was easier for her to stay home in bed.  She was loyal and had the knack for making friends easily – and made friends for life.  She cared about others and adored animals and children alike.  She loved her dogs as her kids.  If she had any regrets when she passed, it would be that she and Edwin never had a child.

The desire to learn to ride a horse was one of Annelies’ true passions.  Riding seemed to bring her a sense of peace and she rode for as long as she could.  One of my many memories of time spent together was going to watch her learn to ride a horse at the stables in the dead of winter.  She struggled to get on the horse and to stay on because she had become weak on her left side – but she did it - determined.  She crawled up on that horse and faced her fear of heights as I stood in ten degree weather with numb hands and feet.  I asked her how she could ride so long in the cold as I had no feeling left in my extremities and she simply said it wasn’t that cold – and then she smiled.

If I had to pick one person I have admired during my own lifetime, it would have to be Annelies.  Simply put, she is a hero.  She battled a horrible disease with dignity and courage, never looked back and always looked forward.  She had hope, hope for a cure; hope for a future.  She never asked, “Why me?” but bore the brunt of her illness with dignity and grace.

If I had five minutes with Annelies again, I’d tell her how thankful I was to have her in my life.  She had become a big part of my life and while I will miss her terribly, I will carry memories of her in my heart.  I believe that as long as Annelies is remembered, she will never be gone.

I find great comfort now knowing that Annelies is free from the pain that she had to endure for too long.  I know that she and her sister, Maryann, who passed away just five months ago, are joyfully reunited once again.  I know in my heart, they are watching over us today.

            by Mary Elizabeth Frye

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am in a thousand winds that blow,

I am the softly falling snow.

I am the gentle showers of rain,

I am the fields of ripening grain.

I am in the morning hush,

I am in the graceful rush

Of beautiful birds in circling flight,

I am the star shine of the night.

I am in the flowers that bloom,

I am in a quiet room.

I am in the birds that sing,

I am in each lovely thing.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there. I did not die.

Goodbye my friend….Until we meet again.